LG Washing Machine: both water valves opening during cold cycle

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

If your LG washing machine is filling with both hot and cold water during a cold wash cycle, it indicates an issue with the water inlet valve. This malfunction can lead to improper washing temperatures, affecting your laundry results. Common causes include a faulty water inlet valve assembly, incorrect hose connections, or a malfunctioning control board.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for LG Models

  • LG support notes incorrect hose connections and valve behavior can cause unexpected water temperature.

Possible Causes

Faulty water inlet valve assembly

How to Identify: Both hot and cold water flow when only cold is selected; valve doesn’t fully close

Part: Water inlet valve (hot/cold)

Temperature selector/control board sending incorrect signals

How to Identify: Control board may incorrectly energize both solenoids, independent of valve mechanical health

Part: Temperature selector switch / control electronics

Hoses reversed or connected incorrectly

How to Identify: Hot and cold hoses connected to wrong inlet ports causing unexpected mixing

Part: Hose connections to inlet valve

DIY Solutions

Inspect hose connections

Easy 5–10 minutes
Tools Needed: None
  1. Unplug the washer and turn off water supply.
  2. Check that the cold water hose is connected to the cold inlet on washer and hot hose to hot inlet.
  3. Swap hoses if they are reversed and test cold cycle again.
⚠️ Safety First: Turn off water and unplug before touching hoses

Clean inlet valve screens

Moderate 15–30 minutes
Tools Needed: Screwdriver, Pliers, Small brush
  1. Unplug washer and turn off water supply.
  2. Disconnect hot and cold hoses at the back, inspect small mesh screens on valves for debris.
  3. Clean screens with water/soft brush.
  4. Reattach hoses and run a test cycle.
⚠️ Safety First: Water may drain from hoses; have towel/bucket ready

Next step

Choose the next step for both water valves opening during cold cycle

Confirm the diagnosis before ordering. An error code can identify the system involved, but it does not prove that a specific part has failed.

Check during diagnosis

Most relevant component to inspect

Water Inlet Valve

Controls the flow of hot and cold water into the appliance.

Typical part-only price
$25 - $60
DIY difficulty
Easy
Estimated time
15-30 mins
Where can I find the model number?

Check the rating label around the door, lid, frame, rear panel, or inside the appliance cabinet. Use the complete model number, including suffixes.

Find a part that fits my model

Verify the complete model and part number on the retailer's compatibility page before ordering.

Other parts options

Check related components first; use model search as a fallback.

Model number required

Model-compatible Washing Machine parts

Enter the complete model number to browse compatible replacement parts. This is a model-based parts search, not a diagnosis that a specific component failed.

Find a part that fits my model

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission from other qualifying purchases or service requests made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are based on repair relevance, not commission rate.

Optional routine care

Maintenance supplies

These products support cleaning or routine upkeep. They are separate from the possible repair components above and are not claimed to fix this error code or symptom.

Maintenance supply

Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets

Routine tub-cleaning supplies for residue and odor control. They do not repair a mechanical, drainage, or electronic fault.

View maintenance supply
Maintenance supply

Braided Washer Inlet Hoses

A maintenance replacement option for visibly worn external fill hoses. Verify thread size, length, and hot/cold connection requirements.

View maintenance supply
Maintenance supply

Washer Drain Hose Holder

Helps secure an external drain hose at the standpipe. It does not correct an internal pump or control fault.

View maintenance supply

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Recommendations are based on routine-care relevance, not commission rate.

Professional Repairs

Replace water inlet valve assembly

Estimated Cost: $30 - $80 (part only)

Diagnose and replace control board or temperature selector parts

Estimated Cost: $100 - $300

When to Call a Professional

If electrical diagnostics or control board replacement is required
If water inlet valve replacement is beyond comfort level

Preventive Maintenance

  • Check and clean inlet screens: Valve clogging leading to malfunction
    Frequency: annually
  • Inspect hose connections: Wrong water temperature fill issues due to incorrect hose hookup
    Frequency: every 6 months

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my LG Washing Machine Both water valves opening during cold cycle?
This issue can be caused by a faulty water inlet valve assembly, incorrect hose connections, or a malfunctioning temperature selector/control board.
How do I fix LG Washing Machine Both water valves opening during cold cycle myself?
Check hose connections by ensuring the cold hose is connected to the cold inlet. Clean the inlet valve screens for debris to improve functionality.
How much does it cost to fix Both water valves opening during cold cycle?
Professional repairs can range from $30 to $80 for a water inlet valve replacement, or $100 to $300 for control board diagnosis and replacement.
When should I call a technician for Both water valves opening during cold cycle?
If DIY solutions don't resolve the issue or if you're uncomfortable performing repairs, it's best to call a technician to avoid further damage.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Guidance from available sources; statistical claims are shown only for samples of at least 10 discussions

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Faulty water inlet valve causing both valves to open simultaneously
  • Wiring issue or short circuit in the control board affecting valve operation
  • Malfunctioning temperature sensor incorrectly signaling the need for hot water during a cold cycle

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Inspect and replace the faulty water inlet valve: 1) Unplug the washing machine. 2) Turn off the water supply. 3) Remove the back panel or access panel. 4) Locate the water inlet valve and disconnect the hoses. 5) Test the valve with a multimeter for continuity. 6) Replace if faulty. 7) Reassemble and test the machine.

  2. Check and repair wiring issues: 1) Unplug the machine. 2) Access the control board. 3) Inspect wiring for damage or shorts. 4) Repair or replace damaged wires. 5) Reassemble and test the machine.

  3. Test and replace the temperature sensor: 1) Unplug the washing machine. 2) Locate the temperature sensor (usually near the drum). 3) Disconnect the sensor and test with a multimeter. 4) Replace if faulty. 5) Reassemble and test the machine.

Limited-source guidance; percentages and success-rate claims are not shown
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. LG front load washer, opens both water valves even when only...

Community Discussions

opens both water valves even when only cold cycle

Some models flush the soap box with hot water even on cold cycles; check hose connections.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

User Comments (0)

Share your experience or solution below.

Be the first to comment!

Call Local Repair Provider +1 (888) 217-6318